Hawaii volcano eruption: Which island is Kilauea on? Is it Hawaii’s Big Island?

HAWAII volcano Kilauea erupted into life on Thursday when a monstrous fissure split the ground open, spitting hot lava and volcanic ash. But where exactly is the Kilauea located on Hawaii’s eight islands?

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More than 1,700 residents in the Leilani Subdivision have been urged to evacuated the imminent danger zone and neighbouring areas are on high alert.

An additional 700 buildings are at risk of destruction after officials confirmed lava had breached through cracks in the streets.

Hawaii Governor David Ige said earlier today: “The danger is of such magnitude that it warrants preemptive and protective action in order to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the residents of Leilani Estates and surrounding areas.”

However a volcanologist at Denison University has now told Express.co.uk the situation is not entirely as dire at it may seem.

Staggering images show the sheer scale of the Hawaiian Kilauea volcano as lava and hazardous fumes continue to spew

Which Hawaiian island is Kilauea on?

The volatile fiery mountain is located on the biggest of Hawaii’s main eight Islands – Hawaii or Big Island.

On the whole, it is a small eruption in a part of the rift that hasn’t erupted in over 60 years

Erik Klemetti, Denison University

Kilauea is the youngest of Hawaii’s volcanoes but is also one of the most active ones.

The erupting volcano sits just north of Big Island’s southeastern coast extending in both directions for many kilometres.

To the outside observer, Kilauea appears to be a swelled bump on the side Mauna Loa but according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the volcano is in fact part of a “curving line of volcanoes” with Mauna Kea and Kohala.

REUTERS

Hawaii volcano: Active fissures opened in the ground in Leilani Subdivision

USGS

Hawaii volcano: The erupting volcano poses a risk to the buildings in Leilani Estates

The Kilauea caldera is located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks – a vibrant tropical area which is home to two active volcanoes and lush landscapes.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks has been a World Heritage Site since 1987.

The most recent eruption broke out to the surface in the Leilani Subdivision, some 40km from the surface and along the lower East Rift Zone.

Witnesses who saw the volcanic fissure split the ground open reported spurts of lava some hundreds of feet high.

The eruption followed a collapse of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater in the Middle East Rift Zone on Monday, April 30.

A series of intense earthquakes followed soon after which led to magma pushing its way into the lower East Rift Zone.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory confirmed today volcanic activity continues to rumble in the Puna District of Leilani Subdivision.

Active volcano vents are erupting on Makamae and Mohala Streets as of 3.20pm BST– all local residents have been urged to promptly evacuate.